Lovely Christmas

[J-Pop] Showa-era Christmas songs: nostalgic yet fresh Christmas classics

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

As Christmas draws near, we hear Christmas songs everywhere—from city streets to the radio.

What kind of Christmas songs do you like?

In this article, we’re featuring Japanese Christmas songs released in the Showa era!

Focusing on hit songs, we’ve selected a variety ranging from timeless classics that have been passed down for years to tracks with a refined charm.

For those who experienced them in real time, it’s a chance to look back with fond memories.

And for anyone curious about Showa-era Christmas songs, there may be new discoveries in store.

Make them the perfect companion to a wonderful Christmas!

[Japanese Pop] Showa-Era Christmas Songs: Nostalgic yet Fresh Holiday Classics (31–40)

The Checkers’ Christmas SongChekkāzu

Checkers’ Christmas Song

The Checkers’ Christmas SongChekkāzu

This is the B-side track of the single “Julia ni Heartbreak,” released in November 1984.

When it comes to Christmas songs by The Checkers, many people probably think of this one.

Two lovers vow eternal love beneath the Christmas tree.

Smiles illuminated by flickering candles.

Sweet kisses exchanged under the starry sky.

One romantic scene after another unfolds.

Wrapped in Fumiya Fujii’s warm vocals, you surrender to the dreamy melody woven by Takashi Takeuchi.

It sounds like a wonderful winter night in the making.

A heartwarming love song you’ll want to listen to with someone special.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Christmas AloneImai Miki

Christmas Alone

Christmas AloneImai Miki

A heartrending winter classic by Miki Imai, included on the album “fiesta” released in December 1988.

It stirs up a warm sense of nostalgia, and it’s a song you want to hear when Christmas comes around.

You can easily imagine it playing not only on the radio but also out in the streets or in a café.

The way it layers delicate emotions over Christmas scenes really tightens your chest.

As a song from the ’80s, it has that lovely balance of simple beauty and wistfulness—an elegant Christmas song for grown-ups.

I also recommend it as a track that keeps you company when you spend Christmas on your own.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Christmas Nightsaitou yuki

Christmas Night

Christmas Nightsaitou yuki

Singer Yuki Saito, who entered the entertainment world after winning the Grand Prix at the 3rd Miss Magazine and continues to shine as an actor today, captivates with her 12th single “Christmas Night.” The ensemble, featuring her transparent vocals and delicate piano sounds, evokes vivid Christmas scenes.

The sentimental lyrics, written by Saito herself, blend with the sacred atmosphere of the season to draw listeners into its world.

It’s a song that colored Christmas in the Showa era and one that younger generations should hear.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Christmas AvenueYakushimaru Hiroko

Christmas Avenue

Christmas AvenueYakushimaru Hiroko

Since her debut, Hiroko Yakushimaru has enjoyed immense popularity as a central figure in Kadokawa films, and she remains highly active both as an actress and as a singer.

Christmas Avenue, a track from her second album Yume Jūwa, is striking for its clear yet deeply resonant vocals laid over a relaxed shuffle beat.

The lyrics evoke the sparkle of Christmas cityscapes, offering a soothing sense that helps you forget worries and stress.

With delicate strings that create a sense of spaciousness, it’s a Christmas song that never loses its luster, no matter how times change.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

EVE to the TERMINALNakamori Akina

Terminal Madeno Eve

EVE to the TERMINALNakamori Akina

One of the tracks included in Akina Nakamori’s four-disc CD box set “AKINA,” which features a carefully selected collection from a vast body of work.

The song “TERMINAL made no EVE” originally appeared on a concept album produced by Shizuka Ijūin, and once you know that, it sounds like a scene lifted from a larger story.

Its slightly heartrending lyrics are also noteworthy: “an unstable Christmas that foreshadows a breakup, yet the woman still can’t let go…” When sung by Nakamori, the poignancy is all the more profound.

It may not be widely known outside of her fan base, but it’s a Christmas masterpiece.

Raise the rankinglower

Taki no namida pin ku

Report a problem